Why do manufactures try to make 5th's so complicated??

[dewey]

So what is it with manufactures?? How simple of a concept is it?? Run a extra line to the center of the kite (or attachment points) to your bar, add stopper balls, attach leash...your done right?? What's up with the marketing for something so simple? They call it a different system and charge $100+ dollars for a extra line? I've seen the North, Slingshot, Naish, Best,Takoon, and Globe Rider 5th's. They don't look like they put to much R&D into it. Is it just a way for manufactures to make some extra dough?? Or am I just over simplifying it all??

[sflinux]

I agree with you Dewey. The simplest setup works like a champ. I made my custom 5 line inspired by the following website:
www.herschers.com
-bric

[dewey]

Bric,
Do you have tension on your 5th?? I left a little bit of slack in mine. Will a bit of tension make the V4 fly better??

[consumer]

its better if you have like a 5th element style 5th line setup(Naish and a million other companies got it), because when you reel in the 5th, you dont have to worry about tangling up your front lines. Or if you have a stopper ball on it theres less to worry about when it travels up.

the main issue i think has to do with grip, if you just had straight dyneema or spectra line to the sheeting strap its kind of hard to grip when the kites powered to pull it towards you if you want to relaunch.

All it is though is like an extra long leader for your sheeting strap, and you have a 5th line leader running parallel to that, its kinda stupid to charge 100$ for about 5x2 meters of leader.

[Guest]

its better if you have like a 5th element style 5th line setup(Naish and a million other companies got it), because when you reel in the 5th, you dont have to worry about tangling up your front lines. Or if you have a stopper ball on it theres less to worry about when it travels up.

the main issue i think has to do with grip, if you just had straight dyneema or spectra line to the sheeting strap its kind of hard to grip when the kites powered to pull it towards you if you want to relaunch.

All it is though is like an extra long leader for your sheeting strap, and you have a 5th line leader running parallel to that, its kinda stupid to charge 100$ for about 5x2 meters of leader.

But I've see these twist around the extra long leader line and become useless. I've only seen it happen a few times, but it happened on both North and Naish kites. I think Zeev was asking about it in another post. Do either of those systems have a spinning attachment between the leader and the depower strap? I like what north is comming out with. looks to be a 2 camcleats back to back. That way you could make on the fly adjustments to the 5th. One of the guys at Sherman has a takoon setup with this feature. It seems to make it very simple, and more effective.

Dewey

[Guest]

Its all simple until you try making a spinning leash. Then it becomes complex. I know that from building my own bars. I have not seen a really good solution so far. Most bars make the main line spin around the 5th when you spin the bar, which is not a great idea.

[dewey]

I think the slingshot surefire spreader bar should fix spins. I have my leash connected to the 5th the same way it was connected before. To the spinning collar above the c-loop. I'm thinking the SS spreader will be the solution.